Door hinge structure



Sept. 15, 1959` lMQscHlulnmzR DOOR HINGE STRUCTURE l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 19, 1957 lill.,

BY .AT1-OR EY Sept-` 15, 1959 M. SCHNEIDER 2,903,735

DOOR HINGE STRUCTURE iNvE BY ATTORNEY TOR Mas/4.5: WMe/0IA- StatsPatented Sept. 15, 1959 ine Doon HINGE STRUCTURE Michael Schneider,Forest Hills, NY., assigner to Seasonmaster, Inc., Westbury, N.Y., acorporation of New York Application .lune 19, 1957, Serial No. 666,729

9 Claims. (Cl. "I6-176) This invention relates generally to doorsupports and particularly to an improved door hinge structure.

The improved hinge structure herein comprises a door hinge plate havingan arcuate knuckle which interts with the knuckle joint of a door jambsupport strip, said knuckles being secured to each other by means of apair of pintles in said hinge knuckle being urged in opposite directionsby spring means or the like to engage the knuckle joint of the supportstrip. By providing separate securing means for each of the hinge platesof the door, the latter may be mounted and unmounted with greaterfacility than has been afforded by previous mounting means.Additionally, the pintleespring elements are readily manipulated bysimple tools to cause their engagement and disengagement with thesupport strip knuckle members.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent fromthe speciiication.

The features of novelty which I believe to be characteristie of myinvention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as totheir fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, byreference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a door mounted within `a frame bymeans of the hinge structure of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged partial vertical cross section of one ofthe hinge structures securing the door to the frame, taken on line 2-'2of Fig. 3, some parts being shown in phantom outline;

Fig. 3 is a section view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, some parts beingshown in phantom outline;

Fig. 4 is a rear exploded view of the hinge structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing an alternative embodiment ofthe hinge structure, shown in crosssection on line `55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a rear exploded view of the hinge structure shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown in Figs. l and3, a fragmentary portion of a building wall 11 having a rectangularaperture along one vertical edge of which is mounted a door jamb 12 towhich is attached a substantially rigid elongated support member,generally designated 13. Said support member 13 comprises a front facingpanel 14 and a perpendicular lateral panel 15, said panels being joinedintegrally with each other by an elongated arcuate knuckle 16. yPanels14 and 15 and curved knuckle 16 are formed of extruded aluminum or thelike. Front panel 14 abuts the outer surface of jamb 12 while lateralpanel 15 is aligned substantially parallel to the inner face of saidjamb. Lateral panel has a plurality of apertures, each of whichaccommodate a screw 17 by means of which support member 13 is secured tojamb 12.

ln one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner surface of panel 14 hasa plurality of longitudinally extending bosses 18 lwith space panel 14slightly apart from the front face of jamb A12. Also the inner edge oflateral panel 15 may have an integrally formed H-shaped extension,generally designated 19, one elongated leg 20 of which abuts the innerface of jamb 12 whereby said panel 15 is maintained in a spaced apartposition from said inner face (Fig. 3). f

At suitable spaced apart intervals, portions of knuckle 16 are cut outto form apertures each of which accommodates arcuate knuckle 21 of adoor hinge, generally designated 22. Both knuckles 16 and 21 halvesubstan tially the same cross-sectional dimensions and curvature.Knuckle 21 has a longitudinal slot 23, the purpose of which will beexplained hereinbelow. Hinge 22 has an elongated lateral support plate24 having a plurality of apertures accommodating screws 25 by which theedge panel 26 of a door, generally designated 27, is attached.

Hinge 22, knuckle 21 and support plate 24 are formed integrally ofextruded aluminum, or the like.

Positioned in the interior of knuckle 21 is a coiled spring 31 whoseupper and lower ends bear against the ends of circular rods 32 and 33.that are positioned within the interior of said knuckle and areslidable longitudinally therein. See Figs. 2 and 4. Rod 32 has anupwardly extending pintle 34 of reduced diameter and rod 33 has adownwardly extending pintle 35 of reduced diameter, said pintlesextending slidably into the interior of bushings 36 and 37,respectively. IBushings 36 and 37, which may .be made of stainless steelor the like, have radially extending annular ilanges 38 and 39,respectively, which provide bearing surfaces for the respective opposingedges of knuckle 116 and knuckle 21, as well as for the shoulders 41 and`42 of rods 32 and 33, respectively, which are urged against saidrespective anges by spring 31. Bushings l36 and 37 extend into theinterior of knuckle 116 and together with pintles 34 and 35 they form apivot structure by which door 27 swings open and shut.

In some embodiments, bushings 36 and 37 may be omitted, in which casepintle rods 32 and 33 would not be reduced in diameter at their outerends and would directly engage tho-se portions of support member knuckle16 which bound the cut out section which receives knuckle 21 of hingeplate 22.

In order to remove door 27 from the door frame, the end of a pin, screwdriver or the like, is inserted between shoulder 41 and ange 38, and rod32 is urged downward against the `action of spring 3'1 until pintle 34draws clear ot bushing 36 and flange 33, the insertion and downwardmovement ofthe tool being permitted by slot 23. In some embodiments, theperiphery of rod 32 on shoulder 41 may curve inwardly to facilitate theinsertion of a tool for this purpose. A slight .twist of the door framewill cause the upper end of pintle 34 to rest against a portion of thelower surface of flange 38, and a tool may then be inserted between theshoulder 42 of rod 33 and ange 39, and said rod is caused to move upwardagainst the action of spring 31 until pintle 35 is retracted completelyfrom bushing 37 and flange 39 at which time knuckle 21 may be drawn freefrom the aperture of knuckle 16.

In vsome cases a single action tool may be provided having two spacedapart tongues that may be simultaneously inserted between the shouldersof rods 32, 33 and ,anges 38, 39, respectively, whereby rods 32 and 33may be retracted simultaneously against the action of spring 31 tofacilitate the withdrawal of hinge 22 from knuckle 16.

In hanging the door, the foregoing procedure is reversed, whereby rods32 and 33 are maintained retracted within knuckle 21 against the actionof spring 31 by a suitable tool until knuckle 21 is aligned with knuckle16 at which `time rods 32 and 33 arereleased Vto cause pintles 34 and35, respectively, to enter into the central apertures of bushings 36 and37, respectively, which have been perviously placed in position.

Figs. and 7 show another embodiment of the hinge securing means of thepresent invention, wherein lower rod 33 is replaced by an elongated rod5l which is almost, but not quite, coextensive in length with knuckle2l. The outer diameter of rod 51 is slightly less than the innerdiameter of knuckle 2l, whereby said rod is readily slidablelongitudinally `within said knuckle. At its lower end, rod 51 has apintle 52 of reduced diameter which is insertable into the the centralaperture of bushing 37.

The upper portion of rod 51 has a central longitudinal vaperture 53which accommodates a spring 54. Upper rod S5 has an outer diameter whichpermits its longitudinal retraction into aperture 53 against the actionof spring 54. Rod 55 has an upwardly extending pintle 56 of reduceddiameter. which is adapted slidably to enter the central aperture ofbushing 36.

It will be noted from the illustrations in Figs. 5 and 7 that theshoulders formed between rods 51 and 55 and their respective pintles 52and 56 cooperate with flanges 39 and 38 of bushings 37 and 36 in thesame manner as described and illustrated hereinabove in connection withFigs. 2 and 4.

Spaced apart a short distance from pintle 56 of rod 55 is an annularrecess 57 which accommodates the end of a pin, screw driver, or othersuitable tool, for retracting rod 5S into aperture 53 of rod 5l againstthe action of spring 54. The retraction of rod 55 by the tool insertedinto annular recess 57 is permitted by the provision of a longitudinalslot 5S communicating with aperture 53 in rod 51, said slot 58 beingaligned with slot 23 of knuckle 21, so that the tool may be readilymanipulated. An additional slot 59 similar to slot 5S and spacedapproximately 180 apart therefrom, may be provided so that the alignmentof a slot in rod 51 may conveniently be coordinated with the position ofslot 23 in knuckle 21.

In Figs. 4 and 7, hinge Z2 is illustrated as having a unitary slot 23throughout its whole length. In some embodiments hinge 22 may beextruded with knuckle 21 being in the form of a completely closedcylinder after which slots may be cut from either or both ends ofknuckle 2i for a suitable distance to permit the insertion of tools forretracting rods 32, 33 and 35, respectively, as described hereinabove.

In the specitication, I have explained the principles of my invention,and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying thoseprinciples, so as to distinguish my invention from other inventions; andI have particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed the part, mode orcombination which I claim as my invention or discovery.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that modifications and changes may bemade without departing from the function and scope thereof, as will beclear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A structure for mounting a door in a doorway comprising an elongatedsupport member secured to the jamb of said doorway, an elongated arcuateknuckle on said support member, a plurality of cut away sections in saidknuckle, a hinge plate for each of said cutout sections, each hingeplate being adapted to be secured to the edge of a door, an elongatedarcuate knuckle on said hinge plate of substantially the same crosssectional dimension and curvature as said irst mentioned knuckle, saidhinge plate knuckle being adapted to be positioned within the cutoutsection of the support member knuckle, a flanged bushing removablyinserted into each end of the support member knuckle bounding eachcutout section, a pair of pintles movable longitudinally within eachhinge plate knuckle, an annular shoulder near the outer end of eachpintle, and a spring positioned between said pintles, said pintles beingurged outwardly by said spring frornopposite ends of their respectivehinge plate knuckle to cause the outer ends of said pintles to engagethe interiors of their adjacent respective bushings positioned in thesupport member knuckle and to cause each pintle shoulder to bear againstthe ange of its respective adjacent bushing.

2. A structure for mounting a door in a doorway comprising an elongatedsupport member secured to the jamb of said doorway, an elongated arcuateknuckle on said support member, at least one cutout section in saidknuckle, a hinge plate adapted to be secured to the edge of a door, anelongated arcuate knuckle on said hinge plate of substantially the samecross sectional dimension and curvature as said Iirst mentioned knuckle,said hinge plate knuckle intertting the cutout section of the supportmember knuckle, a pair of rods movable longitudinally within the hingeplate knuckle, a longitudinal pintle of reduced diameter at the outerend of each rod, a shoulder at the junction between each rod and itsrespective pintle, a removable bushing positioned within each end of thesupport member knuckle bounding said cutout section, an annular ange oneach bushing abutting the respective arcuate edge of said support memberknuckle, a spring positioned between said rods, said rods being urgedoutwardly from said hinge plate knuckle to cause said pintles to enterand engage adjacent respective bushings to the extent limited by theirrespective shoulders bearing against the respective bushing anges, saidilanges serving as bearings between the opposing respective ends of saidsupport member knuckle and said hinge plate knuckle.

3. A structure according to claim 2, and further cornprising alongitudinal slot in said hinge plate knuckle through which a tool maybe inserted to engage at least one of said shoulders to retract itsrespective rod against the action of said spring for the removal of saidhinge plate knuckle from said support member knuckle.

4. A structure for mounting a door in a doorway, comprising an elongatedsupport member secured to the jamb of said doorway, an elongated arcuateknuckle on said support member7 at least one cutout section in saidknuckle, a hinge plate adapted to be secured to the edge of a door, anelongated arcuate knuckle on said hinge plate, said hinge plate knucklebeing adapted to be positioned within the cutout section of the supportmember knuckle, a removable bushing positioned within each end of thesupport member knuckle bounding said cutout section, an annular ange oneach bushing abutting the respective arcuate edge of said support memberknuckle, a 'lirst elongated pintle movable longitudinally within thehinge plate knuckle, a longitudinal axial recess in said first pintle, aspring positioned within said recess, a second pintle movablelongitudinally within said recess and normally urged outwardly therefromby said spring, an annular shoulder near the outer end of each pintle,said spring causing the outer ends of said pintles to enter into andengage respective bushings to the extent limited by said shouldersbearing against the respective flanges of said bushings.

5. A structure according to claim 4, and further comprising an annularrecess in the surface of said second pintle, a longitudinal slot in saidfirst pintle in the region of the position of said second pintle, thecombination of said slot and said recess permitting the insertion of atool to cause the retraction of said second pintle into the axial recessin said iirst pintle against the action of said spring.

6. A structure according to claim 5, and further cornprising alongitudinal slot in said hinge plate knuckle with which saidlongitudinal slot in said first pintle may be aligned to permit theinsertion of a tool lfor the retraction of said second pintle.

7. A hinge structure comprising a support member, an elongated arcuateknuckle on said support member, a cutout section in said knuckle, ahinge plate, an elougated arcuate knuckle on said hinge plate ofsubstantially the same cross sectional dimension and curvature as saidiirst mentioned knuckle, said hinge plate knuckle being positionablewithin said cutout section of said support member knuckle and alignedtherewith, a bushing removably inserted into the interior of eachportion of the support member knuckle bounding said cutout section, anannular ange on each of said bushings forming a bearing between adjacentrespective edges of both of said knuckles, a pair of pintles movablelongitudinally in said hinge plate knuckle, a spring positioned betweensaid pintles and normally urging the latter into engagement with therespective interiors of adjacent bushings, an annular shoulder on eachof said pintles adapted to abut against the flange of its respectiveadjacent bushing to limit the outward movement of said respectivepintles,

8. A hinge structure comprising a support member, an elongated arcuateknuckle on said support member, a cutout section in said knuckle, ahinge plate, an elongated arcuate knuckle on said hinge plate ofsubstantially the same cross sectional dimension and curvature as saidrst mentioned knuckle and positionable within said cutout section, abushing removably inserted into the interior of each portion of thesupport member knuckle bounding said cutout section, an annular flangeon each of said bushings forming a bearing between adjacent respectiveedges of both of said knuckles, a pair of pintles movable longitudinallyin said hinge plate knuckle, means yieldably urging each of said pintlesinto engagement with the respective interiors of adjacent bushings, andan annular shoulder on each of said pintles urging against the flangesof their respective bushings and retaining them in place within thesupport member knuckle while limiting the outward movement of saidpintles.

9. A hinge structure according to claim 8, and further comprising aslo-t in said hinge plate knuckle to permit the retraction of at leastone of said pintles from its respective bushing in order to release saidhinge plate from said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,904,110 Willmann Apr. 18, 1933 2,112,399 Graham Mar. 29, 19382,308,284 Ibach Jan. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,383 Germany June 28,1901 786,606 France June 8, 1935

